And because of all that, let’s talk about something you shouldn’t do while your husband is out of town. Frankly, you proooobably shouldn’t make three grilled cheese sandwiches at once. I mean, really. Three?

Because of this, I’ve been living on sandwiches since Sunday. When I picked up this bread that morning, it was so fresh that it was still WARM. I had huge plans for it, probably involving garlic and gorgonzola and maybe even some filet. But then I spied a dying container of blackberries in my fridge, and since I haven’t killed my basil plant yet, I figured I better put it to work, and I knew I had some fontina in the cheese drawer because… I always have fontina in the cheese drawer.

I almost made that mess into a pizza, but I could not resist this bread, which is huge since bread is not my thang. This week was weird.

Besides surviving on fruit and cheese sandwiches, a little wine, a lot of chocolate and some yogurt covered pretzels, I spent a few hours yesterday prepping some meals for my husband since we aren’t crossing paths this week. At the moment I’m most likely on a plane to Seattle (scared to death since I’m a huge twit) and he won’t be returning home until tomorrow, but when he does return home? He has a fridge stocked with enchiladas, bbq beer chicken, and almost two whole pounds of toasted sesame salmon – which will most likely all be consumed in the 48 hours before I get back.

I’d like to say that he will probably miss me, but the DVR queue is seriously full of Duck Dynasty and all those dumb pawn shop shows, and it will be an entire week since he’s been forced to double up on wearing nose strips and been constantly kicked in the ribs mid-snore. Let’s face it: he’s in heaven.

One thing he will surely not even care about is the fact this he missed these sandwiches. Considering they house no meat, I wouldn’t even be able to force him to eat them as a snack or an appetizer, which is why they make the best single lady food ever. Even when you eat one a day for four days straight. And maybe even two on the last day, just to make sure they’re perfect. But I don’t know any respectable lady who’d do that.

Fontina + Blackberry Basil Smash Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

makes 4 sandwiches

1 loaf of multigrain bread, cut into 8 thick slices

12 ounces of fresh blackberries

12-15 fresh basil leaves, chopped

6-8 ounces of fontina cheese, sliced

2 tablespoons olive oil

In a large bowl, mash blackberries with a fork (be careful – they will splatter!) and stir in chopped basil. Heat an electric griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat.

Lay a piece of cheese on each slice of bread, then top with a few spoonfuls of smashed blackberries. Gently pick up 3 slices, brush some olive oil on the bottom, and place them on the griddle or skillet. Place the remaining slices on top, brushing them with olive oil too. I like to cook these over lower and slowly so the bread gets perfectly golden and the cheese melts, so let each side cook for about 4-5 minutes. Remove and dig in!

Omygoodness…. that photo of everything stacked and smushed together looks ahhhmazing. And even better is that I just bought a bit pint of blackberries for another recipe and they’re currently sitting in my fridge. Might have to halve it so that I have some leftover to make this!

Enjoy your trip— and you must be the best wife ever for having the fridge stocked with all that deliciousness for when he returns home. See? You’re a sweetie!
This kind of fruit/cheese combo is something I would never think of- so glad there are people like you around to show me the ropes.

I love this! It reminds me of that Sex and the City episode where they talk about “single girl behavior” and Carrie says she likes to eat a tower of saltines with grape jelly while standing in the kitchen. This is of course way more awesome than that, but still, the sentiment is the same.

I’m starting to get nervous that your husband and my fiance are the same person. Pawn shop shows? Check. Nose strips necessary? Check. Still snoring through them? Double check. Eating everything I put in front of him even after insisting he doesn’t like ‘sweets’ or ‘nuts’? Yup.

This looks fabulous!! The colors, the smooshy cheese, the blackberries…yum!

“enchiladas, bbq beer chicken, and almost two whole pounds of toasted sesame salmon” — my husband would have been left with lettuce, some veggies, and some pre-cooked chicken strips from TJs and told to make himself a salad. Your hubs is a lucky guy!

Amazing. I hear you on the kick you said you are on right now. I just got back from Napa, and all we ate was amazing breads and cheeses paired with sweet things like pears and apples. Seriously just ate that multiple times a day and just a bit of wine of course. ;)

OK!! I just have to say that I LOVE your blog and your humor, but this post took it to a whole different level. My husband does not travel often, which I like–but unfortuantely for me, I do have to sit there and watch Duck Dynasty and all the stupid Pawn shop shoes in addition to Sons of Guns and American Chopper. I must admit that his reality shows are more educational than mine (sex and the city, sometimes housewives and shameless–the Kardahsians. Anyway…have fun in Seattle—hope the weather is awesome. We will miss you

By the way, I just went ahead and called you Jess like we’ve known each other for years. “Be more proper” was my New Year’s Resolution. Glad I’m part of the 92% of folks that give up their resolutions. (I love fitting in.)

Omg I had to laugh when I saw the huge stack of drippy, gooey sandwiches. Not because it was funny, but because it looked so unbelievably, over the top, I-can’t-believe-she-went-there-that-looks-sinful, delicious. :)

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About Jessica

I’m Jessica and this is where I share my stuff. You will find a balance of healthy recipes, comfort food and indulgent desserts.

I am madly, passionately, inexplicably in love with food. Bacon makes me beam. Chocolate makes me shout from the rooftops with joy. Vegetables and I are the best of frenemies. My perfect world would include none of them.
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